Hoop2410 Interview: Better Know a Grinder - A Duck for All Seasons

Mike “Hoop2410” Petta has not been on the DFS scene for as long as some Grinders, but he has already made a name for himself in the community as a successful DFS player and show host for RotoGrinders. It was only a matter of time before Mike was asked to survive the torture test of answering ten questions with Duckie, and Mike gladly took on the challenge.

TENQUESTIONSWITHMIKEPETTA

1. As always, we must know backstory. What brought you to our little hamlet?

I always played quite a bit of season long fantasy (MLB,NBA, NFL) with friends, nothing serious in terms of money. The interest in fantasy sports was always present. Fast forward to a career in accounting that lasted seven years. I was at my desk on an August afternoon in 2012 and heard an ad for FanDuel on the radio, made a small deposit and was instantly hooked. Where my story is unique from most, lies in the fact that I never won a huge GPP that catapulted me to where I am at now. I am the definition of grinding your way up. I started out grinding low stakes ($1/$2/$5) head to heads and 50-50’s and followed strict bankroll management.

2. At what point did you realize you could make a career at DFS?

So I started playing DFS in Aug 2012, by December 2013 I started planning to leave my career as an accountant, this became realized in June 2014. The decision was actually a difficult one and more complex due to having a family (one kid and another on the way). I was a year and a half deep into DFS and was having a very successful NFL season and started out doing very well in NBA (2013-2014 season) and that was kind of the tipping point for me. The sticking point was convincing the wife that this was a good idea, so I really had to bring her into the DFS world and explain things on a more advanced level (she’s not a sports person at all).

3. What is the one bit of advice most players tend to ignore?

This one is easy, bankroll management. Practicing PROPER bankroll management is the most difficult aspect of DFS for new players and experienced players. The first problem lies in the fact that most people don’t have a clearly defined bankroll, therefore they do not know how much they should be playing for on a nightly basis. The next problem is related to these massive GPPs that are being rolled out for every sport. Don’t get me wrong, these big GPPs are awesome for the industry and a ton of fun to participate in, but most DFS players tend to over indulge in these events. This is the topic I’m most passionate about and could talk about for hours, so I’ll stop here, haha. Long story short, it is very important to define your bankroll and stick to a system that fits your style of play.

4. Which of the Detroit sports teams do you feel most optimistic toward?

Definitely the Pistons. I really like what Stan Van Gundy is trying to do with team; Andre Drummond appears to be one of the better big men in the league and I’m actually a big fan of the Reggie Jackson move/signing. The Tigers are the team that I am most passionate about, but I’m a realist and can see the downward trend that they are headed for. I’ve been tricked my the Lions one too many times as a kid growing up, therefore the optimism is completely exhausted with them.

5. What single musician best represents Detroit?

Has to be Eminem with Kid Rock as a close second. Both guys are completely devoted to Detroit and awesome musicians. I’ve always been a huge fan of Eminem’s work (Interviewer’s note: Dude. This guy).

6. What’s the difference between the high-energy world of DFS and the high-energy world of accounting?

I’m going to keep this one very simple…DFS is FUN and Accounting is BORING.

7. Explain how Bachelor in Paradise merits my viewing time.

It’s all about the preparation/expectation. Women watch the show and hope that these Bachelor/Bachelorette failures find love. Men watch the show to laugh at these people as they get drunk and fail at love for a second, sometimes third and fourth time. Honestly though, this season has been a disappointment.

8. If you created a reality show, what would it be?

My favorite reality show of all time is Big Brother. I think some sort of twist between Big Brother and DFS could be very interesting. In order to get power in the show you would need to win a DFS contest to be awarded Head of Household (only my fellow Big Brother nerds would understand), but I really think there is some potential there.

9. Which co-hosts do you get along with best/worst?

I’m most likely not going to satisfy the question with my response here. The RotoGrinders team is absolutely awesome. The hosts are all very talented in their own, unique ways. I just feel fortunate that I am able to work with these guys on a daily basis. Total cop out, I’m sorry.

10. What’s the best way to survive cold weather?

Don’t go outside!!! In all seriousness, cold weather is terrible, being born and raised here, you just kind of get used to it. A couple pieces of advice for people willing to brave a Michigan weather. 1) Buy a 4-wheel drive vehicle. 2) When it snows, shovel periodically, don’t wait until it all falls or better yet, buy a snow blower.

About the Author

Shawn Hugus (@duckiesuccumbs) has never written an e-mail in Comic Sans font. Also, he is a DFBC Finalist and a co-host of Night Sweats on GrindersLive. He also wears the nicest sportcoats when he’s at DFS events.

RotoGrinders.com is the home of the daily fantasy sports community. Our content, rankings, member blogs, promotions and forum discussion all cater to the players that like to create a new fantasy team every day of the week. Our goal is to help all of our members make more money playing daily fantasy sports!